Apparently, given the retrospectives I’ve seen today, you won’t ever hear those reports.
Meridian was as far south as help could go. The trucks with needed supplies were taken to NAS Meridian, and they stayed there until they could get the interstate open.
Where did you go? My aunt in Laurel was without power for a much longer time than I would expect. Though, that could have just been her power company.
Even in Meridian, there were so many trees down that it would take 45 minutes to an hour to make what would normally be a 10 minute drive. Plus, they had a curfew, which reminds me of martial law...but that’s another topic altogether. ;o)
My parents in Meridian actually managed to find a hotel room in Starkville so that they could have some much needed air conditioning.
I went home six weeks after Katrina hit, and I couldn’t believe the damage along I 20, between Jackson and Meridian. They were still picking up trees!
I gathered with my brothers and sisters in Shady Grove, about 6 miles north of Laurel. We were lucky that we did not have more damage to our immediate area. Tornadoes passed a quarter mile south and north of us. It was the strips of tornado damage that had us trapped. As usual, the locals started cutting the trees and clearing the roads on their own.
That area was without phone service for nearly two months after the storm. It was 4 weeks before power was restored. There a lot of damage to the home along 5th Ave in Laurel. It was once lined with huge oaks, no longer.
I have a friend in Meridian who had a large tree cut her home in two.